The Department of Energy's (DOE) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number DE-FOA-0003394 focuses on the gasification of alternative feedstocks as part of the DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management's (FECM) Hydrogen with Carbon Management (HCM) Program. This FOA aims to support innovative research and development projects related to clean hydrogen production from gasification technologies, with a focus on using non-traditional or alternative feedstocks such as biomass, municipal solid waste, and industrial waste.

The FOA covers two main areas of interest:

1. Research and development for entrained flow gasification technologies: This area focuses on the development and demonstration of entrained flow gasification systems to convert alternative feedstocks into clean hydrogen. These systems should integrate all necessary operations like feedstock preparation, syngas cleanup, and slag handling. Projects must operate on alternative feedstocks for at least 250 hours and include a Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate process performance.

2. Research and development for fluidized bed gasification technologies: This area seeks projects that demonstrate fluidized bed gasification systems for clean hydrogen production. Like the first area, this requires the use of alternative feedstocks, a TEA, and an LCA. Projects should also run for at least 250 hours and address issues such as feedstock preparation and ash handling.

The total estimated federal funding for this FOA is $15 million, with up to $3 million available per project. Each project requires a cost share of 20%, meaning applicants must contribute 20 percent of the total project costs. The anticipated project period for each area of interest is three years, or 36 months.

Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens, for-profit entities, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, state and local governments, and federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), although FFRDCs may only participate as subrecipients.

Applications must address technical and management challenges associated with alternative feedstock gasification and demonstrate scalability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. A key requirement is the inclusion of a Research and Development Community Benefits Plan, which outlines how the project will advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, contribute to energy equity, and support the U.S. workforce.

Full applications are due by November 22, 2024, and DOE anticipates selecting projects for funding by February 28, 2025, with awards expected by May 2025.